Debris Flow at Jilong Border Kills Five and Leaves Hundreds Missing
Overflow from a newly formed barrier lake has halted road repairs, causing a higher risk of renewed outburst floods that complicate rescue operations.
Overview
- A large debris flow that began on Aug. 26 on the Nepal side struck the Jilong border port in Shigatse, Tibet, producing confirmed fatalities and a large number of people unaccounted for.
- Officials reported five deaths and 558 people missing in an update issued by Aug. 28 while search operations remained incomplete and casualty figures are provisional.
- Ground access to the core port area is severely limited even though 21 rescuers and one search dog reached the disaster zone because steep terrain and unstable ground prevent comprehensive searches.
- An upstream barrier lake formed by the slide has begun to overflow and engineers paused road-clearing and repair work after crews were withdrawn for safety.
- The Ministry of Emergency Management has ordered emergency satellite data acquisition to map landslides, track the barrier-lake extent and guide operations while nearby towns report abundant relief supplies and relocated residents.